Nursing, A.S. Admission Requirements

For Minnesota West Practical Nursing students applying to progress to A.S. Nursing Program:

1. Completion of required prerequisite courses.
2. Licensed as an LPN by July 15.
3. Cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0 in BIOL 2201 (Anatomy), BIOL 2202 (Physiology), ENGL 1101 (Composition I), and PSYC 1150 (Lifespan Developmental Psychology).
4. No grade lower than a C is accepted in any course required for the A.S. nursing program (including prerequisites).
5. Three general courses required for the nursing programs have a time limit of 5 years (Anatomy, Physiology, and Developmental Psychology). Review the currency of courses with a nursing advisor. 
6. Complete the Declaration of Intent form.

For licensed LPN’s applying to enter the A.S. Nursing Program:

1. Licensed as an LPN by July 15.
2. Cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0 in BIOL 2201 (Anatomy), BIOL 2202 (Physiology), ENGL 1101 (Composition I), and PSYC 1150 (Developmental Psychology).
3. No grade lower than a C is accepted in any course required for the A.S. nursing program (including prerequisites).
4. Three general courses required for the nursing programs have a time limit of 5 years (Anatomy, Physiology, and Developmental Psychology). Review the currency of courses with a nursing advisor.

 Application due by February 15. The following application steps must be completed and submitted.

1. Complete the online Minnesota West  Application for Admission. Submit Official high school and college transcripts to the Admissions Department (admissions@mnwest.edu). 
2. Complete the A.S. Nursing Program Application using the Online Application (The Online form is not available for mobile devices, this form cannot be submitted using a mobile device. Clear your web browser history before submitting the form.)
3. A.S. applicants must complete the NLN NACE Foundations of Nursing v1.2 exam. You will take the NLN NACE Foundations of Nursing v1.2 exam from home via an online remote proctor.
4. Email jodi.christensen@mnwest.edu for directions. Register and make a payment of $86.00 to NLN. The test is limited to three attempts in an application period (June 15 through February 15). If you retest, you must wait one month before retesting. February 15, 2025, is the last day to test. Official transcript results must be sent to Minnesota West Community & Technical College.
5. Please carefully read through our Associate Degree Nursing (RN) Application Packet, which includes a checklist and additional important information.

Admission to the Nursing Program is competitive. Applicants who have met the minimum admission requirements by February 15 will be reviewed for fall admission to the program.

Admission to the nursing program is determined by a screening committee and based on the following criteria:

• Nursing test scores (ATI TEAS test for Practical Nursing Program and NLN test for Associate Degree Nursing Program).
• College GPA.
• Coursework related to the degree requirements for the nursing program. Minnesota West will evaluate the college transcripts and post-transfer credits to your Minnesota West transcript in accordance with Minnesota State Policy 3.21.  You are encouraged to complete non-nursing courses prior to beginning nursing courses. 

Applicants who do not meet the minimum admission requirements or fail to complete the nursing program admission process by the February 15 deadline will be denied admission to the nursing program. Minnesota West will notify all applicants in writing of their admission status in the nursing program within six weeks of the application deadline.

Please do not call to check on your admission status before April 1.

1. Completion of all prerequisite coursework and courses within the nursing program with a grade of C or higher. C minus (-) grades are not accepted.
2. Current personal health insurance is required. Students are responsible for incurred medical costs during the nursing program.
3. CastleBranch database registration is required for all nursing students. Students are required to upload clinical documents to CastleBranch by July 15 where your health record will be stored while you are in the nursing program. Students are responsible for registering and paying the CastleBranch fee. Documents that must be uploaded to the CastleBranch database include:
   • Minnesota West Nursing Health History and Physical form.
   • Written documentation from a health care provider, Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC), or agency of immunizations/vaccinations/tests which include the following:
     • Hepatitis B series – documentation of three (3) vaccinations or evidence of a positive Hepatitis B titer.  
       
     • MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) – documentation of two vaccinations or documentation of a positive MMR titer. 
       
     • Tdap ( Tetanus, Diptheria and acellular Pertusis) – within the last ten (10) years. 
       
     • Varicella (Chicken Pox) – two vaccinations or documentation of a positive varicella titer. 
       
     • 2 step - Tuberculosis Skin Test, Quantiferon blood test,  or evidence of recent chest X-ray (within one year).
       
     • A COVID vaccine (or declination to the vaccine) is required at clinical experience locations. COVID documentation must include the vaccine manufacturer and lot number.
       
     • Influenza - documentation must be administered during the current flu season (August - March) and must be submitted on the school form, available for download.
     • Note: Records with any personal medical information are considered confidential documents and are secured in the student CastleBranch database.
4. Current CPR Certification :
   
   • American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider 
   • Certification must include a ‘hands-on’ demonstration of CPR skills for all age groups and include AED training.  
   • Online CPR renewals will not be accepted.
5. Background Checks: Nursing students are required to complete two (2) background checks at the beginning of the nursing program. Clinical facilities may also require their own background check – in addition to the following background checks: 
   • MN Department of Human Services (DHS) background check pursuant to MN Statute 245C requires that students who have contact with individuals in licensed healthcare institutions complete an annual background study with the MN Department of Health and Human Services. 
   • Criminal Background Check: students will complete a criminal federal background check through CastleBranch database, in addition to the MN Department of Human Services background check.
   • If discrepancies occur on background checks, the student will be contacted by the nursing program director. Disqualifying offenses can be found  here. Criminal background discrepancies may be reviewed by clinical facilities. Clinical facilities have the final decision on if students with a discrepancy may attend clinical experiences at their location.
6. Students are responsible for cost of nursing clinical experiences, health examinations, health insurance, malpractice insurance, CPR certification, healthcare vaccines, CastleBranch registration fee, background checks, etc.
7. ATI examinations are required periodically in the program as well as a national standardized, end-of-program ATI exam near the completion of your final semester to assist in preparation for the licensure exam after graduation. The cost of this preparation tool and examinations by ATI are included in your tuition.
8. ATI review course: Students must complete either an on-campus ATI review course after graduation and prior to receiving authorization to test for the NCLEX exam.

Standards

Critical thinking ability for effective clinical reasoning and clinical judgment consistent with level of educational preparation 

Examples include but are not limited to… 

• Ability to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care.
• Organize workload to manage time effectively and prioritize the delivery of client care.
• Use resources effectively to understand the evidence, context of situations, and perspectives (their own and others) to make logical and informed decisions.
• Possess problem-solving skills, including the ability to reason, measure, calculate and use data to make
  decisions in time-pressured environment.
• Assimilate information from class, lab and clinical to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes.
• Ongoing demonstration of skills mastery while integrating and mentally sorting new information.

Standards

Interpersonal skills sufficient for professional interactions with a diverse population of individuals, families, and groups

Examples include but are not limited to… 

• Maintain and protect client confidentiality and privacy.
• Establish professional and ethical relationships with others.
• Accept feedback and integrate new understanding into behavior.
• Display personal accountability, integrity, understanding that student behavior affects others.
• Practice the ability to delegate.
• Promote a team-building environment.
• Provide effective and therapeutic care in a variety of cultural settings.
• Convey empathy, compassion and sensitivity in interactions and relationships

Standards

Communication skills sufficient for verbal and written professional interactions 

Examples include but are not limited to… 

• Assimilate verbal and non-verbal information, process and exchange information with clients, families, instructors and members of the healthcare team.
• Accurately interpret and document nursing actions and client responses.
• Display the capacity to engage in successful conflict resolution and advocate for client rights and needs.
• Effectively communicate in English in verbal, written, and electronic resources with colleagues, school staff, and members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Use therapeutic communication techniques to provide support to peers, clients and families.
• Process relevant information; accurately and timely communicate to the healthcare team.
• Ability to design teaching plans for client education and assess effectiveness.
• Provide disease prevention and health promotion, care coordination and case findings

Standards

Psychomotor skills sufficient for providing safe, effective nursing care

Examples include but are not limited to…

• Move about client’s room and/or workspaces to complete client assessment.
• Administer rescue procedures - cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Demonstrate the ability to work for long periods.
• Safely use and calibrate equipment in a variety of settings.
• Perform procedures necessary to safely admit, transfer, or discharge a client.
• Prepare and administer medications and treatments.
• Perform nursing skills safely and efficiently

Standards

Assessment skills sufficient for providing safe, effective nursing care 

Examples include but are not limited to…

• Ability to provide comprehensive assessment of client’s health status through collection and synthesis of data to establish baseline status for client.
• Ability to integrate assessment information to form a plan of care.
• Recognize emergent needs; perform appropriate targeted assessment, interventions and evaluation.
• Assume accountability for delivered care; recognize limits of knowledge, skills and licensure scope.
• Understand and process healthcare provider orders according to assessment data, evaluate effectiveness of interventions and communicate with members of the healthcare team.
• Demonstrate distinction between provider-dependent and independent nursing interventions. 

Standards

Demonstrates appropriate behavior to function effectively under stress and assume accountability
for one’s actions

Examples include but are not limited to…

• Demonstrate emotional stability while encountering a wide variety of emotions in self and others.
• Communicate empathy, recognize own values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions and experiences affect perceptions and relationships with others.
• Personal flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing environments.
• Ability to apply sound judgement in pressured situations. 

Standards

Process attributes that include compassion, altruism,
integrity, honesty, responsibility and tolerance

Examples include but are not limited to…

• Provide safe and effective care to patients along the age continuum without regard to disability, ethnic origin, gender status or social standing.
• Recognize and preserve individual human dignity.
• Advocate for the client’s best interest.
• Demonstrate professional accountability and ability to work in hierarchical environment.
• Demonstrate intent to follow the ANA Code of Ethics.
• Practice participation in development of healthcare policies, procedures.
• Demonstrate understanding of nursing theory and practice. 

Standards

Other considerations

Examples include but are not limited to…

• Ability to work with infectious agents and blood-borne pathogens.
• Ability to work in area with potential chemical and radiation hazards, potential allergens such as latex.
• Ability to work in areas of potential violence.
• Ability to work in close proximity to others.

Standards

Sensory

Examples include but are not limited to…

• Visual and auditory ability to perform assessments, safe nursing care, and meet program outcomes.